Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

Watch: Reds rookie Elly De La Cruz dazzles with another record-breaking relay throw

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 7/20/23

Cincinnati Reds rookie Elly De La Cruz is the latest phenom to enter Major League Baseball and every day it seems he is doing something to wow fans at the plate, on the base paths and in the field.

It was more of the latter on Thursday afternoon, when he unleashed an incredible 99.8 MPH relay to throw out San Francisco's Wilmer Flores at home plate.

Have a look.

Well, Elly De La Cruz's 97.9 MPH infield assist record didn't last long.

He's putting a new meaning on #ShortBoySummer with a new record for fastest infield assist (99.8 MPH).@Reds | @BallySportsCIN pic.twitter.com/UNnDpIfZU6
— Bally Sports (@BallySports) July 20, 2023

That is the hardest throw by an infielder in the Statcast era, breaking his own record of 97 MPH that he set just a few games ago.

That is already the fourth assist by De La Cruz on which he was clocked at more than 95 MPH, tying him with Fernando Tatis Jr. for the most in baseball since the start of the 2015 season when the Statcast era began.

most 95.0+ mph assists as infielder, career under Statcast (2015):

Elly De La Cruz: 4
Fernando Tatis Jr.: 4
Oneil Cruz: 3
Didi Gregorius: 2
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) July 20, 2023

Those are crazy numbers.

Perhaps even crazier is the note from MLB.com that De La Cruz's relay throw on Thursday was harder than any pitch thrown by a Giants or Reds pitcher in the game.

De La Cruz's arrival in Cincinnati was the big turning point for the Reds' season and has helped them climb into playoff contention in the National League. The Reds have a wave of young talent just starting to hit the majors and he is by far the best of the bunch.

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